News

By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media

The Port Hope Panthers (23-0-0) and Dorchester Dolphins (25-0-0) continue their perfect seasons in the Tod and Yeck Divisions. The Lakefield Chiefs and Clarington Eagles are charging in the Orr, and catching up to Port Perry. The Alliston Hornets and Stayner Siskins are both cruising on top of the Carruthers Division, as the Siskins have won 10 straight. The Walkerton Hawks have won 10 straight to expand their lead on top of the Pollock. Likewise, the Essex 73’s have won 11 straight to build a lead in the Stobbs. In the Bloomfield, it is the Grimsby Peach Kings riding a 16 game winning streak and the Port Dover Sailors have been hot as well, moving into a tie for second. The Doherty Division is led by the defending Schmalz Cup Champion Ayr Centennials, but the Paris Mounties are sticking close. We’re less than 3 weeks away from the first game between the PJHL’s Kincardine Bulldogs and EHC Dübendorf. (Visit ehcdubendorf.pjhlontario.ca for full details)

EAST CONFERENCE
The chase is on for top spot in the Orr Division as the 2nd place Lakefield Chiefs (37) have closed the gap on the Port Perry MoJacks (42) to just 5 points with one game in hand. The Chiefs beat the MoJacks on overtime 3-2 on Tuesday night in Lakefield and also beat the Georgina Ice (6) 8-3 on Sunday. The MoJacks bounced back with a 5-3 win in Little Britain (12) on Saturday night against the Merchants. The Clarington Eagles (34) also went 2-0 on the week, beating the North Kawartha Knights (26) 11-3 and Little Britain 5-3 to keep pace with Lakefield. The Eagles are 3 points behind Lakefield for 2nd and only 8 behind Port Perry at the top. The Uxbridge Bruins (23) used a perfect 2-0 week to close within 3 points of North Kawartha for 4th place as the Knights were 0-2. 

Nothing has changed at the top of the Tod Division standings as the Port Hope Panthers (46) continue their winning ways. The Panthers are now 23-0-0 on the season after a 2-0 week with back to back wins over Gananoque 5-2 and 6-0. The Napanee Raiders (32) only played once last week, beating Amherstview 4-3 and are now 14 points behind first place Port Hope, but they are 5 points ahead of the 3rd place Picton Pirates (27) and have played 3 fewer games. The Pirates stand 4 points clear of the Gananoque Islanders (23) for 4th.

Top Performances:
Goals: 2 – Aaron Vatcher (Lakefield) vs Port Perry Dec. 6, Trent Schutt (North Kawartha) vs Clarington Dec. 8, Cameron Moffitt (Clarington) vs North Kawartha Dec. 8, Dalton Lawrence (Port Hope) vs Picton Dec. 8, Kennedy Duguid (Port Hope) vs Picton Dec. 8, Will Harrison (Picton) vs Campbellford Dec. 9, Jacob Murphy (Picton) vs Campbellford Dec. 9, Hunter Chapman (Amherstview) vs Napanee Dec. 9, Matthew McIntyre (Georgina) vs Uxbridge Dec. 9, Adam Bartholomew (Uxbridge) vs Georgina Dec. 9, Alex Siblock (Uxbridge) vs North Kawartha Dec. 10, Wes Cowie (Uxbridge) vs North Kawartha Dec. 10, Cameron Harris (Port Hope) vs Gananoque Dec. 10, Graham Lamers (Port Perry) vs Little Britain Dec. 10, Eric Oosting (Lakefield) vs Georgina Dec. 11, Aaron Vatcher (Lakefield) vs Georgina Dec. 11
Assists: 4 – Gerald Bilker (Picton) vs Campbellford Dec. 9
Points: 5 - Gerald Bilker (1G, 4A) (Picton) vs Campbellford Dec. 9, Will Harrison (2G, 3A) (Picton) vs Campbellford Dec. 9, Adam Bartholomew (2G, 3A) (Uxbridge) vs Georgina Dec. 9
Saves: 58 – Spencer Green (L) (North Kawartha) vs Uxbridge Dec. 10
Shutout: 27 SV – Sheldon Calbury (Port Hope) vs Gananoque Dec. 11

NORTH CONFERENCE 
The Alliston Hornets (49) and Stayner Siskins (46) continue to lead the Carruthers Division and should finish #1/#1 at the end of the year; it will just come down to who claims top spot. The Siskins are currently riding a 10 game winning streak. However the next 5 places in the standings are as close as can be. The Huntsville Otters (24) have been caught for 3rd spot and are now tied with Midland (24) and Penetang (24), while Schomberg (23) and Orillia (22) are right behind them. Of that group, Penetang has played the best the past month, going 5-3-1. The Caledon Golden Hawks are in last but had a strong week, beating Schomberg on the road 6-2 before losing to Penetang 6-3 on Friday and battling hard against the leading Alliston Hornets on Sunday before losing 3-2. 

The Pollock Division leading Walkerton Hawks (45) continue to stretch out their lead on top, and have now won 10 straight games to sit 12 points ahead of second place Mitchell (33). Behind the Hawks and the Hawks, the battle for 3rd continues as the Mount Forest Patriots (22) continue to make up ground on the Kincardine Bulldogs (26) and Hanover Barons (22). The Patriots had their modest 4 game winning streak stopped by Mitchell 4-1 on Friday night but bounced back with a 6-2 win over the Wingham Ironman (13). 

Top Performances:
Goals: 4 – Devon Gillham (Alliston) vs Midland Dec. 9
Assists: 3 - Devon Gillham (Alliston) vs Midland Dec. 9, Mitch Livingston (Alliston) vs Midland Dec. 9, Will Ferguson (Alliston) vs Midland Dec. 9, Derek Elliott (Mitchell) vs Mount Forest Dec. 9, Tyler McCracken (Goderich) vs Kincardine Dec. 10, Ben Skuce (Stayner) vs Orillia Dec. 10, Jordan Taylor (Stayner) vs Orillia Dec. 10, Jack Vautour (Mount Forest) vs Wingham Dec. 10, Ostop Mostowy (Mount Forest) vs Wingham Dec. 10
Points: 7 - Devon Gillham (4G, 3A) (Alliston) vs Midland Dec. 9
Saves: 49 – Connor Christanson (L) (Huntsville) vs Schomberg Dec. 9
Shutout: 22 SV – Eric Pitcher (Stayner) vs Orillia Dec. 10

SOUTH CONFERENCE
The Grimsby Peach Kings (49) are riding a 16 game winning streak in the Bloomfield Division, following 3 more wins last week, 6-3 over the Dundas Blues (27), 5-3 over the Glanbrook Rangers (34) and 8-1 over the Simcoe Storm (4). Behind the Peach Kings, the Port Dover Sailors (34) continue their charge up the standings as the Sailors have caught the Rangers for 2nd place in the division following a perfect 3-0 week. The Sailors have now won 5 straight and 8 of their last 10. Dundas holds down 4th, 7 points behind Port Dover and Glanbrook, with the Hagersville Hawks (23), the Dunnville Jr. Mudcats (21) and Niagara RiverHawks (20) are still battling for position. Behind them, the Simcoe Storm (4) have lost 18 straight. 

The Ayr Centennials (50) have won 6 straight in the Doherty Division, following a 2-0 week to stay 7 points ahead of the Paris Mounties (43). The Tavistock Braves (24) extended their winning streak to 7 games on Friday night against the Norwich Merchants (26), but the Wellesley Applejacks (35) ended the streak on Sunday, beating the Braves 3-2. Wellesley (35) and the New Hamburg Firebirds (34) continue to battle for 3rd, while the Woodstock Navy-Vets (27), Norwich (26) and Tavistock (24) continue to fight for 5th place in the division. The Burford Bulldogs (11) and Delhi Travellers (0) continue their struggles at the bottom of the standings. 

Top Performances:
Goals: 3 – Blake Pow (Norwich) vs Burford Dec. 6, Zachary Masterson (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10, Steven Holmes (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10
Assists: 4 - Matt Caskanette (Norwich) vs Burford Dec. 6
Points: 4 - Matt Caskanette (4A) (Norwich) vs Burford Dec. 6, Eric Uba (1G, 3A) (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10, Mitch Klie (1G, 3A) (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10, Zachary Masterson (3G, 1A) (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10, Steven Holmes (3G, 1A) (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10, Hudson Michaelis (2G, 2A) (Ayr) vs Burford Dec. 10, Garnet McComber (2G, 2A) (Grimsby) vs Simcoe Dec. 11
Saves: 50 – Antonio Villa (L) (Burford) vs Norwich Dec. 6, Antonio Villa (L) (Burford) vs Ayr Dec. 10
Shutout: 21 SV – Tanner Sheppard (Dundas) vs Dunnville Dec. 10

WEST CONFERENCE 
The Essex 73’s (41) extended their lead on top of the Stobbs Division over the Lakeshore Canadiens (37) after winning all 3 games they played last week, beating Wallaceburg 4-0, Petrolia 7-1 and Dresden 2-1. The 73’s have now won 11 straight games as they have moved to the top of the standings. The Amherstburg Admirals (34) and Blenheim Blades (32) are all in the chase at the top as these 4 teams have all had turns in first place in the division this year. Behind the top 4 teams, the Mooretown Flags (27), Wheatley Sharks (25) and Dresden Jr. Kings (21) are fighting for position, while the Petrolia Flyers (10) and Wallaceburg Lakers (3) have continued to struggle although both teams have been close to winning of late, but have fallen short. 

The Dorchester Dolphins (50) put together another winning week, beating Exeter 5-2 and Port Stanley 10-2 and have now won 25 straight to start the season and hold a commanding lead in the Yeck Division. The Dolphins are now 15 points ahead of the 2nd place Aylmer Spitfires (35) who lost their only game last week 6-3 to the 8th place Lucan Irish (14). The 7th place Thamesford Trojans (18) have played better of late, winners of 2 straight and 3 of their past 4 as they beat North Middlesex 6-3 and Mt. Brydges 9-2 last week. The Trojan wins have moved Thamesford to within 2 points of the Port Stanley Sailors (20) for 6th place and 3 points behind the Lambeth Lancers (21) for 5th. 

Top Performances:
Goals: 4 – Michael Nutt (Thamesford) vs Mt. Brydges Dec. 11
Assists: 5 – Christian Petrozza (Exeter) vs Mt. Brydges Dec. 10
Points: 7 - Christian Petrozza (2G, 5A) (Exeter) vs Mt. Brydges Dec. 10
Saves: 56 – George Hill (L) (Wallaceburg) vs Essex Dec. 6
Shutout: 13 SV – Tyler Ryan (Essex) vs Wallaceburg Dec. 6

This Week: 68 games, including: tonight the North Middlesex Stars travel to Lucan to face the Irish as the two teams fight for the final playoff position in the Yeck Division; in the top two teams in the Stobbs Division face off on Tuesday night in Essex as the Lakeshore Canadiens play the 73’s; the Lakefield Chiefs travel to Clarington on Thursday to face the Eagles as both teams continue to chase Port Perry for top spot in the Orr Division; the Paris Mounties travel to Ayr to face the Centennials in a battle of the top teams in the Doherty Division; the Penetang Kings meet the Schomberg Cougars on Friday night as they Kings look to stay hot and continue their climb in the Carruthers Division; another battle of the Hawks in the Pollock Division as Mitchell travels to Walkerton on Saturday looking to snap their winning streak; the red-hot Port Dover Sailors head to Grimsby on Friday and will be looking to beat the Peach Kings in the Bloomfield Division and snap their 16 game win streak; and the Napanee Raiders take another crack at ending the Port Hope Panthers perfect season Saturday night in Port Hope.